Chapter 1: To the Summer Palace

Lincoln was sitting at the computer in the living room. He was doing research on penguins for a school project.

His mom and dad were cooking in the kitchen. Lincoln could smell bread baking in the oven and spaghetti sauce bubbling on top of the stove.

"Lincoln!" said his 10 sisters bursting into the living room. "Come with us!" said Lola. "What's going on?" asked Lincoln. "They're here!" said Lana. "Teddy and Kathleen?" asked Lincoln. The 10 sisters nodded, their eyes shining.

"Oh, man!" Lincoln whispered. He jumped up from his chair and grabbed his jacket and his backpack. The other 10 sisters grabbed their bags "Mom, Dad-we'll be back soon!" Lori called.

"Dinner's in thirty minutes," their mom called from the kitchen.

"No problem!" said Luan. Then, Lincoln and his 10 sisters headed out the front door into the cool spring air.

"Where did you see them?" asked Lincoln. "At the edge of the woods!" said Lynn. "I was riding my bike home from my baseball practice. When they saw me, they waved," said Lynn. "You didn't stop and talk to them?" asked Lincoln. "No, I pointed to the house, to let them know I had to get to my 10 siblings first," said Lynn. "One by one, I told all 9 of my sisters and then, we went to tell you," said Lynn.

"Oh thanks," said Lincoln. "We'd better hurry, dudes!" said Luna. "I wonder where they're sending us!" said Lucy as they crossed their yard and headed up the sidewalk. "I wonder what our next mission is!" said Lisa. "Hey, did you bring the Wand of Dianthus?" asked Luan. "Yep, it's in my backpack!" said Lincoln.

Lincoln and his 10 sisters ran into the Royal Woods woods. They hurried through the shadowy light of late afternoon until they came to the tallest tree. Lincoln looked up. The tree house was back. The two young enchanters from Camelot were looking out the window.

"Hi!" yelled Lincoln and his 10 sisters. "Hello!" Teddy and Kathleen shouted.

One by one, the 10 sisters started climbing up the ladder into the tree house. Lincoln climbed up the ladder last.

"We're so glad you're literally back!" said Lori. She and the other 10 sisters hugged Teddy and Kathleen. Lincoln hugged them too.

"How's Penny?" Lincoln asked. He'd been missing the little penguin they had given Merlin on their last adventure. "Oh, Penny and Merlin have become the best of friends," said Kathleen. "She has brought him much joy and laughter." "Cool," said Lincoln. He wasn't surprised. Penny had made him really happy too.

"What do you want us to do now?" asked Lucy.

"On your last missions, you found secrets of happiness to help Merlin," said Kathleen. Lincoln and his 10 sisters nodded.

"Now, on your next mission, Merlin wants you to help bring happiness to millions of people," said Kathleen. "Whoa," said Lincoln and his 10 sisters. "That's a big job," said Lola. Teddy and Kathleen laughed.

"How do we do that?" asked Leni. "Simple," said Teddy. "You must seek out a brilliant artist," said Teddy. "Do you mean like a painter?" asked Lori. "It could be," said Teddy. "But it could also be any person who uses passion and imagination to create something beautiful," said Teddy. "Merlin wants you to put that artist on the right path," said Teddy. "To share his or her gifts with the world," said Teddy.

"Oh, cool!" said Lynn. "Where do we start, dudes?" asked Luna. Kathleen took a creamy white envelope from her cloak. It was sealed with melted red wax. In fancy writing, it said: For Lincoln and His Ten Sisters of Royal Woods. "Tis a royal invitation," said Kathleen. Lincoln took the envelope and handed it to Lisa. She carefully broke the seal and pulled out a thick card with gold edges and a gold script. She read aloud:

You are invited to a party at the Summer Palace October 13, 1762, five o' clock in the evening

"A party at a summer palace! In 1762!" said Lincoln and his 10 sisters. "Yes," said Teddy. "The palace is in Vienna, Austria," said Teddy. "It is one of the most splendid palaces in all the world," said Teddy. "Is it a fancy party?" asked Lola. "Yes, it is," said Teddy. All of the Loud siblings were excited except for Lana who didn't like fancy parties because she had to wear something fancy.

"That sounds like fun," said Lincoln. "Indeed, it should be," said Kathleen. "But you must watch your manners and beware of unexpected dangers," said Kathleen.

"What kind of dangers?" asked Lana. "I do not know," said Kathleen. "But Merlin believes you will need magic to keep safe. Did you bring the Wand of Dianthus?" asked Kathleen. "Yes," said Lincoln. He reached into his backpack and pulled out the silvery wand. It was shaped like the horn of a unicorn. Kathleen took the wand from Lincoln. She closed her eyes and spun it through the air as if she were spinning a baton. In a blur of light and movement, the wand changed into a small silver flute.

"Wow," said Lincoln and his sisters. " Cool, a flute," said Luna. "A magic flute," said Teddy. "Playing this flute will deliver you from danger," said Teddy. "But I and my ten sisters don't know how to play the flute," said Lincoln. "Do not worry," said Kathleen. "If the time is right, the flute will make its own music," said Kathleen. "Just blow over the mouthpiece," said Teddy. "And while one of you plays, the other make up a song. Whatever you sing will come true," said Kathleen.

"Cool!" said Lori. "But when your song has ended, the flute's magic will end, too," said Kathleen. "You can only use the flute's magic once, so choose the time wisely," said Kathleen. "Okay, got it!" said Lincoln.

"Are you ready to go?" asked Kathleen. "Uh, wait," said Lisa. "Party invitation… magic flute… Is that all? Don't you have a research book for us?" asked Lisa. "On this journey, Merlin wants you to rely only on your wits and your talents," said Teddy. "Oh, okay, " said Lincoln, though he wasn't sure he had many talents.

"Tell the magic tree house where to go by pointing to the words on the invitation," said Kathleen.

Leni pointed to the words Summer Palace. But before she made her wish, she looked at Teddy and Kathleen. "I hope we see you again very soon," Leni said. Say hi to Merlin and Morgan when you go back to Camelot," said Lucy. "And Penny too," said Lana. Kathleen and Teddy both smiled. "Yes, we will," said Teddy.

Leni took a deep breath. "Okay, I wish we could go there!" she said. "To the summer palace!" she said. The wind started to blow. The tree house started to spin. It spun faster and faster. Then everything was still. Absolutely still.